Elaine J. Diavastes

SIOUX CITY -- Elaine J. Diavastes, 63, of Sioux City passed away Monday, April 30, 2012, at Holy Spirit Retirement Home after a courageous six-year battle with cancer. Services will be 10:30 a.m. Thursday at St. Boniface Catholic Church, with the Rev. Michael Erpelding officiating. Burial will be in Graceland Park Cemetery. Visitation will be 4 to 8 p.m. today, with the family present 6 to 8 p.m., a Catholic Daughters of The Americas rosary at 4 p.m. and a vigil service at 7 p.m., at Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel. Condolences may be posted online at www.meyerbroschapels.com. Elaine was born on May 25, 1948, in Sioux City, the daughter of John and Georgia (Perimates) Diavastes. She graduated from Central High School and attended Briar Cliff College. Elaine worked for I.P.S. for five years and as a secretary at Western Iowa Tech Community College for 11 years. She moved to Plano, Texas, where she worked for M.C.I. Elaine returned to Sioux City in the 1990s. In 1968, Elaine went to Greece for six weeks. She was able to visit Velvendo in Macedonia, the village her grandparents came from and visited relatives there. Elaine was baptized Greek Orthodox and converted to Catholicism while in Texas. She loved the church and working with children. She was an avid reader, loved animals and volunteered for the S.P.C.A. Elaine enjoyed crocheting and taught others how to crochet even during her illness. Survivors include her mother, Georgia Diavastes of Sioux City; a brother and his wife, James and Lynn Diavastes of Buffalo, N.Y.; and a niece, Alise Diavastes of Buffalo. She was preceded in death by her father, John Diavastes. Pallbearers will be Kevin Loftus, Thomas Haddad, Nick Stamoulis, Milan Johnson, Steve O'Mara, and Gary Olsen. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the family.